If you’re like me, spicy food is everything. I’m Mexican, so if it isn’t spicy, I pretty much don’t taste it. Peppers, curries, spices: I love them all equally. But can you eat spicy food while pregnant? Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? Is it bad for you or baby?
Possible effects of eating spicy food while pregnant
There are a lot of old wives’ tales about the meaning behind a pregnancy with a lot of spice in it. Some women believe that if you have heartburn, commonly brought on by eating spicy foods, your baby will be born with a lot of hair.
Another myth is that if you eat spicy food it can cause your unborn baby to go blind. It’s not true, in case you were wondering.
OB-GYN Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones dispels that falsehood: “Because pregnancy hormones and the pushing of the uterus as it gets higher can cause reflux, spicy foods can be less well tolerated but they won't make your baby blind,” she wrote on the University of Utah’s Health page.
Myths aside, here are some actual ways that spicy meal might make you uncomfortable.
Heartburn
Heartburn is pretty common during pregnancy and spicy foods will often stoke those heartburn fires, especially in the last trimester. As the baby grows bigger, it can push stomach acids up into the esophagus.
Morning sickness
Spicy foods can make morning sickness worse, so avoid spicy foods in the first trimester.
Allergies
Eating pepper can cause allergic symptoms in some moms-to-be. If you’ve ever had allergic symptoms prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy is not the time to try to beat those odds.
So, are there spicy foods to avoid during pregnancy?
Not really, but there is a particular reason to avoid eating spicy food while pregnant: food sensitivity. In the third trimester, certain foods can cause increased sensitivities to certain foods like spicy food, carbonated drinks, and other common indigestion-inducing foods. These sensitivities can cause expectant moms to avoid even the blandest of meals. Be careful not to eat trigger-inducing foods.
How eating spicy foods might be beneficial during pregnancy
Broadens your future child's food choices
Some research shows that eating spicy food can widen a baby’s palate in utero. The study found that flavors pass from mama to baby via amniotic fluid. So, whatever mom eats while pregnant can expand the baby’s foodie palate.
Fights cancer cells
During your pregnancy, you might suffer from oxidative damage, which can lead to cancer in the future. Pepper contains carotenoids, which is an antioxidant, and studies have shown that the capsaicin found in hot chili peppers could slow the spread of lung cancer.
Fights acne
Many expectant moms can and do end up with acne and skin problems. Spicy foods can help that.
Helps fight colds and coughs
Getting a cold while pregnant is horrible. Pepper can help with this. Many cultures from around the world use pepper to treat their colds and coughs.
The bottom line is that spicy food is great for so any reasons. And you should be able to eat whatever you want, especially when you’re pregnant. Go for it! Just keep an eye on how it affects you and the baby, and adjust accordingly.
